Mayweather vs. Maidana Preview

Floyd Mayweather is the greatest pound-for-pound boxer in the world
and the sport’s undisputed king when it comes to selling
pay-per-views. His last seven fights have done at least one million
buys, and it is a virtual lock that his showdown with Marcos
Maidana on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on
Saturday will make it eight in a row.

It matters little whether or not one believes that Maidana is the
foe best suited to test “Money” in the ring. People will tune in
regardless, either in hopes of seeing him lose or simply to admire
his boxing prowess. Hate him or love him, Mayweather is combat
sports’ biggest star, making each of his appearances a must-see
event. Just four fights remain on the 37-year-old’s current deal
with Showtime, so an extended era of dominance could very well be
nearing its end.

Welterweights

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (45-0, 26 KOs) vs. Marcos Maidana (35-3, 31
KOs)

The Matchup: Maidana first garnered significant
interest as a potential Mayweather foe following his unanimous
decision triumph over Adrien Broner for the WBA welterweight title
in December. The 24-year-old Broner was unbeaten until that point
and recognized for employing a style similar to that of
Mayweather’s.

However, Maidana never let the American get going. He floored
Broner in the second and eighth frames and forced his opponent to
respect his power throughout the contest. As a result, Broner was
never able to put his speed advantage into play, as he expended a
great deal of energy in attempting to keep Maidana at bay. The win
capped off a remarkable turnaround for the 31-year-old Argentine,
who contemplated retirement following a sluggish defeat to Devon
Alexander in February 2012. Since uniting with trainer Robert
Garcia, Maidana has appeared rejuvenated, winning four straight
fights, including the upset over Broner.

During that time, Maidana has improved his footwork and head
movement. In addition, he has displayed a newfound proficiency for
the jab, often using it to set up his more powerful punches. His
ability to throw punches in combination will be key against
Mayweather, who is accustomed to racking up lopsided striking
advantages against his opponents.

While the win over Broner has given Maidana confidence that he can
employ a similar game plan to defeat Mayweather, wearing down
boxing’s pound-for-pound king will be a far more difficult task.
Mayweather expects to have a size advantage come fight night, as
Maidana has spent the majority of his career as a junior
welterweight. The American rarely allows his foes to hit him
cleanly, whether he is utilizing his trademark shoulder roll or
simply moving in and out of danger; Maidana could find himself
gradually tiring after attempting to impose his will through power
shots. If he fails to connect consistently -- a very real
possibility against one of the best defensive boxers of all-time --
Maidana will find himself wearing down and becoming more vulnerable
to counters.

Mayweather has an uncanny ability to time punches and will
eventually respond with superior hand speed once he gets a sense of
his opponent’s rhythm. “Money” will have to handle a great deal of
pressure and aggression from Maidana early on, but it is not
something he has not seen before.

Mayweather has not won by knockout since stopping Victor Ortiz in
2011, but his ability to rack up points while avoiding damage
remains a sight to behold.

The Pick: Maidana’s resilience allows him to hang
around, but Mayweather pulls away to capture yet another clear-cut
decision.